Wildlife Rescue and Ophthalmic Trauma in a Rhinella sp. Toad during Small Hydropower Plant Construction in Southern Brazil: A One Health Perspective

Wildlife rescue operations conducted during environmentally licensed infrastructure projects provide important opportunities for animal welfare, biodiversity conservation, and wildlife health surveillance within a One Health framework. Amphibians, such as Rhinella spp. toads are widely distributed throughout Brazilian territory and are vital species for insect pest control, soil aeration, and recognized as sensitive indicators of environmental change and ecosystem health. This group is particularly vulnerable during activities at construction sites, where heavy machinery accidents can inflict in physical injuries. Reports describing clinical management in free-ranging Rhinella remain scarce. This report describes veterinary assessment and treatment of a juvenile male Rhinella sp. (20 g) rescued during activities at a small hydropower plant construction site in Paraná, Brazil. The toad was found active and vocalizing upon capture during backhoe activity. During clinical examination, hyphema was detected in the left eye, washed with sterile 0.9% NaCl saline solution. Treatment included topical dexpanthenol ophthalmic gel (50 mg/g, BID), morphine (35 mg/kg, 0.07 mL), enrofloxacin (10 mg/kg SID, 0.01 mL), vitamin B complex, and 0.9% NaCl saline (0.1 mL) administered SQ. After 24 h of monitoring it showed favorable clinical recovery, considered fit for release at a designated release area according to the project’s Environmental Basic Plan guidelines. This report highlights the challenges of providing veterinary care to injured wildlife in field settings where infrastructure and diagnostic resources are limited. It also demonstrates the importance of rapid clinical assessment and access to essential medications for the successful rehabilitation of rescued amphibians. Beyond individual patient outcomes, wildlife rescue programs associated with environmental licensing generate valuable information on species occurrence, health status, and anthropogenic threats affecting local fauna. Within a One Health perspective, the clinical evaluation of rescued amphibians contributes to environmental monitoring and biodiversity conservation, supporting the identification of ecological disturbances that may ultimately influence wildlife population health and ecosystem resilience.